Geneva Labour Film Shorts Festival 2010

THE MAN BEHIND THE LABOUR FILM MOVEMENT

IAM, USA, February 2010, (00:02:45)

As economic troubles continue in the U.S., Chris Garlock a Washington, DC-based labour activist is pursuing his passion by operating a film festival that showcases movies about the crisis, the union movement and the daily life of working-class people. This film was produced by the International Association of Machinists for its online news network.

Yannik Bovy, Frederik Tihon, Gérald Jamsin-Leclercq, FGTB, Belgium, 2009, (00:00:20)

A short teaser of a documentary about the revival of blast furnace number six at a plant of the global steel group ArcelorMittal in Seraing, Liège, Belgium.

A CALL TO ACTION

Sustain Labour/ITUC, Global, 2009, (00:01:44)

A teaser and short film in its own right from the 20 minute film "Time to Tackle Climate Change", which was first launched at the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009. The video showcases trade unions' commitments for action on climate change around the world.

WHERE SHIPS AND WORKERS GO TO DIE

NLC, USA, 2009, (00:09:22)

Produced by the U.S.-based National Labor Committee, this moving documentary exposes the harsh, slave like conditions of workers in the ship breaking yards in Bangladesh. U.S. labour activists call on the G20 to put an end to the exploitation.

REPORT: FAIR GAMES FAIR PLAY

OSEO, Switzerland/South Africa, 2009, (00:08:38)

A short film reporting on the Fair Games Fair Play campaign led by South African unions and supported by others including the Swiss workers' organization OSEO, producer of this film. Preparing for the world cup workers fight for better working conditions and better pay.

WHAT HAVE UNIONS EVER DONE FOR US?

Manic Studios, Australia, 2009, 00:02:09

WINNER OF LABOUR START'S VIDEO OF THE YEAR
With unions getting a bad wrap from big business, web video designers Manic Studios ask the biting question, what have the unions ever done for us?

HOUSE OF JUSTICE

GAPWUZ, Zimbabwe, 2009, (00:26:05)

A chilling documentary on the atrocities conducted by Zimbabwean government in defiance of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) treaty. Accounts of torture, vandalism and violence on Zimbabwean farm owners and workers as they fight for their rights in the face of the land reform program issued by President Mugabe.

WARNING SIGNS

Flawless Media, UK, 2009, (00:00:60)

Produced by Flawless Media for the Communication Workers' Union (CWU), this entry to the Trades Union Congress' 60 second short film contest in 2009 highlights workplace "warning signs" of when it is time to call for help from a union.

FUTURE BY OWN HANDS

UBWU, Ukraine, 2009, (00:10:02)

A short movie that recognizes the important and difficult role that young people play in the life of the Ukrainian Building Workers' Union. Young unionists from UBWU fight to make their life better. This short film features organizing efforts and the struggle for humane conditions of living and safe and healthy jobs.

JOIN THE UNION

LO, Sweden, 2010, (00:00:40)

Landsorganisationen, a Swedish trade union confederation, used this advertisement as part of its organizing campaign. The main purpose of the film is to show how employers often tell workers not to organize, while they themselves have all the help they need in case of a dispute or a conflict.

RACE TO THE BOTTOM

Jonathan King, 2008, USA, (00:05:00)

A short online version of a 20 minute documentary film about truck drivers working at the Port of Oakland, where over 2,000 independent truck drivers operate every day. The film looks into the lives of the drivers, as we learn about their struggles to earn a living wage, support their families and stay healthy as they do their jobs, transporting goods in and out of the Port.

CRUNCH TIME EPMU

Unreal Films, New Zealand, 2009, (00:13:42)

New Zealand is entering an economic crunch unlike anything seen before in our life time. Prominent economists and trade union leaders discuss what is happening, why, and what workers can do about it. This is an Unreal Films production for the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU).

UNION OF GREEN

Sustain Labour/ITUC, Global, 2009, (00:01:56)

A teaser and short film taken from "Time to Tackle Climate Change", which was first launched at the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009. The video showcases trade unions' concrete experiences, challenges, opportunities and commitments for action on climate change.

ROBONURSE

Frances Underwood, Australia, 2009, (00:03:39)

This film takes a look at the "cost" of nursing care and what strategies may be introduced by employers or health administrators to reduce nursing costs in the future. Winner of the NSW's first Labour Film Shorts Festival in 2009.

JUST ANOTHER COG IN THE MACHINE

John Wood, UK, 2009, (00:01:01)

A union can make a big difference to people's experiences in a workplace. This movie was screened at the Canadian International Film Festival in 2009.

TCO AND FACKET FÖRÄNDRAS

Acne Advertising, Sweden, 2009, (00:02:42)

A campaign of Swedish trade unions federations aimed at graduates explaining the value of a collective agreement, which among other things sees workers earn on average 80,000 kronor (CHF11,500) more than workers without a collective agreement.

Feature Presentation :
Like a Bird in a Cage (Kafesteki Kuş Gibiydik)

Directed by Güliz Sağlam and Feryal Saygılıgil, Turkey, 2009, (00:30:00)

Fired for her trade union activities, Emine Arslan, a Turkish female textile worker at Desa Safaköy factory, inspired the resistance of other women workers at the factory. The film tells of the women's hopes, expectations and relationship with the union.